Thursday, November 24, 2011

Collagen makes up 30% of the protein in the body and constitutes 70% of protein within the skin. Located within the dermis (below the outermost layer of skin,) collagen is the foundation of connective tissue that supports skin’s structure. As we age, the natural weakening in cellular activity and increase in environmental stressors break down this structural framework, resulting in loose, thin and frail skin.

Although there are many topical products and treatments used to stimulate collagen production, cellular renewal takes place within those deeper dermal layers, having many experts believe a topical and nutritional approach will provide best results for healthy skin aging.

By adding certain protein rich foods to your diet, you can promote a healthier rate of collagen renewal and protect your skin from premature aging. Mineral copper that is found in nuts, raisins, sweet potatoes, kidney beans, lobster and oysters facilitates collagen production and therefore should be included in your diet. Lastly, be sure to include foods rich in Vitamin C as it is essential for collagen synthesis.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Under the new rule, sunscreens that protect against both ultraviolet A rays (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can be labeled "Broad Spectrum." UVB rays and UVA rays both can cause sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging; UVB rays are the main source of sunburn, FDA officials explained.

The new rules will also require sunscreens to have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more or they won't be able to claim that they help prevent sunburn and possibly reduce the threat of premature skin aging and skin cancer — if used with other measures to protect against the sun.

"Sunscreens that meet the new test for Broad Spectrum protection and are also SPF 15 or above can, for the first time, include the statement 'used as directed reduces the risk of early skin aging and skin cancer when used with other sun protection measures,' " Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation.

The new labels will, for the most part, not been seen until next summer, she said.

Sunscreens with a SPF of 2 to 14 can be labeled as "Broad Spectrum," but only those Broad Spectrum products with an SPF of 15 or more can claim they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, according to the new regulation.

Any sunscreen that is not Broad Spectrum or a Broad Spectrum sunscreen with an SPF between 2 and 14 will have to carry a warning saying the product has not been found to prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.

Sunscreens labels will also have a "Drug Fact Box," Woodcock said. And, sunscreens can no longer be called sunblocks, she said, "because we don't want to give the impression that complete protection is provided."

In addition, sunscreens can no longer claim they protect for more than two hours, without approval from the FDA, Woodcock said. The products will also no longer be allowed to state that they are waterproof and sweat-proof. Products can, however, claim to be water-resistant for 40 to 80 minutes. The amount of time the product remains effective must be stated on the label, Woodcock added.

One expert applauded the FDA move.

"Consumers need simplified and user-friendly guidelines to help them choose an effective sunscreen. The new guidelines will make it easier for dermatologists to make recommendations about sunscreens and for consumers to choose an effective sunscreen to protect their skin," said Dr. Jennifer A. Stein, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. "These new guidelines are a major step in the right direction to help better protect Americans from the dangers of sunburn and helping them reduce their risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetime."

Dr. Jeffrey C. Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, said, "The new FDA guidelines for sunscreens reflect the confusion for both consumers and health professionals in the realm of sunscreen efficacy."

"It is welcome news that the term 'Broad Spectrum' now specifically endorses the concept of UVA and UVB protection in a sunscreen product," said Salomon.

The FDA is also proposing another rule that would limit the maximum SPF value on sunscreen labels to "50+". The reason: SPF values above 50 have not been shown to give any better protection than an SPF 50 product, Woodcock said.

The agency is asking the public to submit data on the effectiveness and safety of sunscreen sprays and to suggest possible warnings that might be applied to the labels of these products. It is also providing information to the makers of sunscreens to help them comply with the new rules.

Finally, the FDA is starting to look into the safety of the active ingredients in sunscreens, Woodcock said.

The American Cancer Society lists skin cancer as the most common of all cancers, responsible for nearly half of all malignancies suffered by Americans. More than 2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer and potentially lethal, is diagnosed nearly 70,000 times each year.

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are classified as non-melanomas, usually starting in either basal cells or squamous cells, which are found at the base of the outer layer of the skin or cover the internal and external surfaces of the body. Basal cell or squamous cell cancers are quite curable if detected and treated early, according to the cancer society.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Grind one ounce each of
lavender and rose into a powder, then mix with honey
until the concoction has a paste-like consistency. Apply the
aromatic mixture to the skin and enjoy, rinsing with warm
water.

Body salt scrub

Pour 2/3 cup of olive or almond oil into
a small bowl, and add approximately the same amount of
sea salt or sugar, mixing together. Blend in several drops
of your favorite aromatic essential oil, then use the scrub
all over your body when in the tub. Be careful not to slip,
as the oil can be slick. Shower the scrub off to finish, and
luxuriate in your silky smooth skin.

Ask your esthetician if the spa provides any sweetly
scented services or products that can make your skin soft
and smooth between spa visits

Saturday, September 24, 2011

At the core, peptides help older cells communicate like younger cells.
"When cells can communicate more fully, repair cells can focus on areas of skin
damage caused by aging processes," and
"The result is enhanced firmness, better moisture retention and visible easing of wrinkles."

So Please read ingredients list of your skincare!
Make sure Peptides are THE MAIN INGREDIENTS!

In fact, skin creams have gotten more and more expensive and less and less based on real science.

According to most experts who aren't hawking half-ounce jars of $200 youth serum, the science behind skin care is simpler than most of us think.

As with most health benefits, it comes down to lifestyle, rather than how much you can

afford to spend on products. The things you can do to beautify your skin are remarkably

similar to what you can do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift your mood and live longer and better: Get regular exercise, sleep enough and eat well.

Of course, what you can eat to improve your skin tone, texture, evenness and clarity might be different from what you eat to avoid, say, heart disease.

Whole Grains

Active components: Rutin and B-vitamins

Benefits: Clear and moisturized skin

The "whole food" movement has whole-body advantages, not the least of which is great-looking skin.

Whole foods are basically unprocessed -- whole wheat bread instead of white bread, for instance. The whole grain buckwheat is a good source for the antioxidant rutin, which helps combat inflammation-related skin damage. Wheat germ provides the B-vitamin biotin, which assists cells in processing fats. If you don't have enough biotin in your body, your skin can become dry and scaly.

In general, whole grains instead of processed carbohydrates can improve your complexion. Processed (or refined) flours can cause an insulin spike, which in turn can encourage acne. Replacing your refined-flour pancakes with buckwheat pancakes is a good acne-reducing move. Incidentally, this would also help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

Not into buckwheat? Avocadoes and mushrooms can provide similar benefits.

Now, while oranges, buckwheat, oysters, spinach and almonds are great foods for your skin, achieving great-looking skin through dietary changes doesn't have to be so specific. A healthy body means healthy skin. Just feed your body good, healthy foods, get some exercise and keep your stress low, and your skin will reap the benefits.

Nuts

Active component: Vitamin E

Benefits: Young and soft skin

As with many of the skin-healthy foods on our list, the good stuff in nuts -- especially almonds -- has to do with antioxidant activity. Vitamin E combats skin-aging free radicals, especially protecting skin from sun damage due to UV-sunlight-generated free radicals. Vitamin E also tends to help skin hold in moisture, relieving dryness and making skin look younger.

Pairing vitamin E with selenium can enhance its antioxidant abilities, so go ahead and throw some almonds into your cottage cheese (great source of selenium) for a skin-revitalizing snack.

Almonds, pistachios and walnuts also provide a nice supply of omega-3 fatty acids, another great skin nutrient.

Red and Green Vegetables

Active components: Vitamin A, beta-carotene

Benefits: Bright and smooth skin

Skin is the body's largest organ. It makes sense, then, that what's good for your whole body is also good for your skin -- and as far as food goes, it doesn't get much better than vegetables. You'll especially want to look for red-orange and green vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach.

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene. Our bodies convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant, preventing cell damage and premature aging. In the case of vitamin A, you also get anti-acne benefits -- vitamin A has been used in acne medications (think Retin-A) for many years.

Spinach and other green, leafy foods provide tons of vitamin A, too, which helps your skin produce more fresh new cells and get rid of the old ones, reducing dryness and keeping your face looking bright and young.

Mangoes are also a great source of vitamin A. It's best to get this vitamin from food and not from supplements, though, since too much vitamin A can cause health problems.

Citrus Fruits

Active component: Vitamin C

Benefits: Smooth and taut skin

Vitamin C is a prime skin-care ingredient in tons of beauty creams. This vitamin aids in the body's production of collagen, a protein that forms the basic structure of your skin. Collagen breakdown, which starts speeding up significantly around the age of 35, can leave your skin saggy. Consuming extra vitamin C in foods like oranges, grapefruits, Acerola cherries (a single Acerola has 100 percent of your vitamin C for the day) and tomatoes can help tighten the skin and prevent wrinkles.

Vitamin C also may fight inflammation, and its antioxidant properties can neutralize the free radicals (highly reactive oxygen molecules) that damage cells and can prematurely age your face.

In case you get tired of eating all that fruit, hot peppers, bell peppersand sprouts also have good amounts of vitamin C.

Seafood

Active components: Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc

Benefits: Smooth, clear and glowing skin

Most of us have heard that fish can be really good for your overall health -- it's a primary component in what's known as the "Mediterranean diet." Many types of fish and shellfish can also work wonders for the skin, especially oysters and fatty fish like salmon.

The primary nutrients that make fish so good for your complexion are zinc and, especially, omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing omega-3 intake can reduce dryness and inflammation. Inflammation can cause skin to age faster, and research shows that getting too little omega-3 may contribute to inflammatory disorders like eczema and psoriasis. Omega-3 fatty acids can also help keep the heart's arteries clear and so improve circulation. Good circulation is crucial to skin health.

Zinc can help fight acne because it's involved in metabolizing testosterone, which affects the production of an oily substance caused sebum, a primary cause of acne. Zinc also assists in new-cell production and the sloughing off of dead skin, which gives the skin a nice glow.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Applying a cream with nutrients to the surface of you skin does not ensure that those nutrients actually penetrate into your skin cells.

They may just "sit there" until your next shower.

How much of the active ingredients actually get into your skin cells depends on the skin's condition, concentration of the ingredients, manufacturing technology and many other factors.

This doesn't mean that all topical preparations are useless -- but they are often unreliable. On the other hand, when the nutrients are ingested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are sure to be delivered to your skin cells.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Smoking constricts the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin.Nicotine may also increase production of the enzyme that breaks down collagen, accelerating the formation of wrinkles. When collagen breakdowns coupled with repetitive lip pursing and the squinting associated with shielding the eyes from smoke, fine lines and wrinkles become even more apparent.

Smokers lose vitamin C, vitamin B12, B5 and B6. Many people do not realize that vitamin C destroys Bvitaminsand will take the two vitamins together. Those two vitamins must be taken at least an hour apart. Tests have shown that smokers lose about 25mg of Vitamin C per cigarette.

Smokers in their 40s often have skin as wrinkled as non-smokers in their 60s, and smokers are twice as likely to develop skin cancer.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Anyone who's ever had a hangover knows that alcohol dehydrates the body and skin included. Alcohol also depletes the body of Vitamin A, which helps skin-cell turnover by maintaining collagen production. It also makes the skin more prone to redness and may even trigger psoriasis.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Supplementing your diet with Vitamin C can help shield your skin from the effects of Stress!!
I recommend to take Vitamin C in Night time! and Powder Vitamin C will be THE BEST, because absorbed really fast! TRUST ME and TRY IT!